Multifunctional device for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising an actuator head (1), a tank (100) containing said fluid, and a pump mounted on the tank, wherein the actuator head (1) includes electromechanical means for actuating the pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) having a microprocessor. The invention is characterized in that the apparatus further includes a regulated electrical heater element adapted to be placed facing the outlet nozzle of the pump to receive said fluid sprayed by the pump and to vaporize it, the apparatus including means for detecting the presence of said regulated heater element facing the outlet nozzle of the pump, for detecting operation of said regulated heater element, and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating, and said microprocessor is programmed to control actuation of the pump automatically at predetermined time intervals while it is receiving said signal indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating.

I claim: 
     
       1. A multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising: an actuator head (1);   a tank (100) containing said fluid;   a pump (6) mounted on the tank, said pump having an outlet nozzle (11),   wherein said actuator head (1) includes electromechanical actuator means (12,13) for actuating said pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) including a microprocessor (139) for controlling said electromechanical actuator means (12,13); and   a heater element (201, 202, 402) disposed facing the outlet nozzle (11) of said pump to receive said fluid sprayed by said pump and to vaporize it, said heater element having a temperature greater than the vaporization temperature of said fluid, said heater element being in communication with the atmosphere to exhaust said vaporized fluid,   wherein the apparatus further includes means for detecting an operation of said heater element and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating operation of said heater element, said microprocessor (139) being programmed to control actuation of said pump automatically at predetermined time intervals when it receives said signal indicating that said heater element is operating.   
     
     
       2. A multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising: an actuator head (1);   a tank (100) containing said fluid;   a pump (6) mounted on the tank, said pump having an outlet nozzle (11);   said actuator head (1) having electromechanical actuator means (12, 13) for actuating said pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) including a microprocessor (139) for controlling said electromechanical actuator means (12, 13);   a movable heater element (201, 202, 402) which, as a function of the apparatus in fumigation mode is disposed facing the outlet nozzle (11) of said pump to receive said fluid sprayed by said pump and to vaporize it, said heater element having a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of said fluid, said heater element being in communication with the atmosphere to exhaust said vaporized fluid; and   means for detecting the presence of said heater element facing the outlet nozzle (11) of said pump and an operation of said heater element, and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating that said heater element is present and operating, and said microprocessor (139) is programmed to control actuation of said pump automatically at predetermined time intervals when it receives said signal indicating that said heater element is present and operating.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said heater element is a temperature regulated electrical heater element. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said heater element (201, 202) is disposed in a fumigation box (200) removably fixed on said actuator head (1) and which is powered by said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head (1). 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts (206) connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of said fumigation box to connect said electrical heater element (201, 202) to said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head (1), said fumigation box (200) includes two snap-fastening resilient arms (208) which embrace said actuator head and bear resiliently against said actuator head (1), and   said electrical contacts (206) of said fumigation box are disposed inside said resilient arms (20) and are pressed by said resilient arms against said external electrical contacts (207) of the outer shell (104).   
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which: said fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts (206) connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of said fumigation box to connect said electrical heater element (201, 202) to said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head (1),   said electrical contacts of said fumigation box and said external electrical contacts of said actuator head co-operating to position said fumigation box on said actuator head.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which: said fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts 206), connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of said fumigation box to said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head (1),   said means for detecting the presence of the regulated heater element detecting the presence of an external electric circuit (206, 201) between the two external contacts (207) of said actuator head.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) and said actuator head further include means (216, 139a) for detecting insufficient electrical resistance of said external electrical circuit and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor (139) indicating that said electrical resistance is below a determined value, and said microprocessor is programmed to prevent operation of said electrical heater element (201) and to prevent actuation of said pump while it is receiving said signal indicating that said resistance is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said regulated heater element is secured to a moving member (301) of said actuator head (1) movable between a retracted position in which said regulated heater element leaves the outlet nozzle (11) of said pump disengaged to enable said fluid to be sprayed, and a fumigation position in which said regulated heater element is disposed facing the spray nozzle (11), said regulated heater element being powered by said electrical control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head when said moving member (301) is in said fumigation position. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said regulated heater element (402) is secured to a fumigation box (400), the apparatus including means (415, 416) for positioning said actuator head (1) relative to said fumigation box (400). 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which said means for detecting that said fumigation box (400) is present and operating include at least one photoemitter (412) secured to said fumigation box (400) and a photoreceiver (417) secured to said actuator head (1). 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 1, including an interface (413) at least for reading information in a removable programmable card (421), and means (412, 417) for transmitting said information to the electronic circuit (101) of the actuator head (1). 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 10, further including a connector (414) for connecting a microcomputer (419) to said box (400). 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said tank (100) of fluid is removably fixed to said actuator head (10), said tank (100) including a data medium (145) carrying at least one binary item of data indicating whether the fluid contained in said tank is suitable for vaporizing with said fumigation head (206),   said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of said actuator head includes means (146) for reading binary data and for applying a signal to said microprocessor indicating that said fluid is suitable for vaporizing with said fumigation box if said binary data read on said tank indicates that said fluid is suitable for being vaporized with said heater element (201, 202; 402) and if said microprocessor (139) has received said signal indicating that said regulated heater element is present and operating,   said microprocessor (139) is programmed to prevent actuation of said pump if said microprocessor (139) has not received said signal indicating that said fluid is suitable for being vaporized with said fumigation box.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which operation of said electrical heater element (201, 202) is controlled by said microprocessor, and said microprocessor (139) is programmed to trigger operation of said electrical heater element (201, 202) for a short period of time only prior to each actuation of the pump at predetermined time intervals, and to stop operation of said heater element (201, 202) immediately after said actuation of the pump. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which a three-position selector switch (136) is connected to said electronic control and power supply circuit (101) and said microprocessor is programmed, as a function of the position of said selector switch; in the absence of said signal indicating that said regulated heater element is present and operating, either to stop operation of said actuator head (1) or to cause said actuator head to operate to actuate said pump (6) a predetermined number of times each time a user presses on a control button (103), or else to cause said actuator head to actuate the pumps so long as the user is pressing on said control button,   in the presence of the signal indicating that said regulated heater element is present and operating, to cause said actuator head (1) to operate to vaporize by fumigation, either a minimum hourly quantity of the fluid, or a mean hourly quantity of said fluid, or else a maximum hourly quantity of said fluid.